AURICULA 



90 



AZALEA 



keep the hand-glass over as before, until the flower, 

 beginning to fade, shows that there is no danger of any 

 other pollen being intruded to frustrate your object. 

 Gather the seed-vessels as they become brown, in June 

 and July ; place them in the sun, on a sheet of white 

 paper, until they burst. Rub out the seeds, and sow 

 them early in September, or keep them in the seed-vessels, 

 in a dry place, until March, which is better. Sow them 

 in a warm border of light soil, or in boxes, under glass ; 

 cover them with light sandy soil. See PROPAGATING. 

 Keep the seedlings free from weeds, and, when they have 

 four or five leaves, transplant them from the boxes, or 

 from the border, into a similar border, in rows eight 

 inches apart each way, there to remain until they flower, 

 which will be next spring. Those that you mark as 

 good must be potted as soon as the bloom is over, and 

 treated as we shall direct for established old plants. 



Culture of Established Plants. The choice sorts grown 

 in pots should have attention as soon as they have done 

 flowering. All that are not required for seeding should 

 have the flower-stems removed, and a little later the 

 plants may be re- potted. It is better to leave them 

 until a good many of the old leaves at the base can be 

 removed, which allows the plants to be potted down to 

 cover the stem, for it is from the stem made during the 

 previous season that new roots are made. The most 

 suitable compost consists of good yellow loam, with the 

 addition of some leaf-mould and cow-dung, which should 

 be thoroughly dried and some soot added, also some sand, 

 and good drainage should be given. When re-potting 

 some of the old roots may be cut away and much of the 

 old soil shaken out. It is necessary to be careful to 

 work the soil well among the roots. Some authorities 

 recommend the use of oyster-shells for drainage ; a few 

 small pieces in each pot may be beneficial, but they should 

 not be used too liberally ; pot fairly firm, and do not 

 fill the pots too full, for in the spring the plants will be 

 benefited by a top-dressing. When this is done all 

 decayed leaves should be removed, also the surface soil 

 as far down as can be done without disturbing the roots, 

 and the soil in the pots must be moderately moist when 

 this is done. Much depends upon the condition of soil 

 and handling the plants when potting ; the roots should 

 not be exposed or allowed to get dry. After potting a 

 slight surface watering may be given, and the plants 

 placed in a pit or frame ; previous to doing this, the 

 ground may have a good watering with weed-killer, and 

 a surfacing of coal ashes. For the first few days the 

 lights may be kept on, giving a little air and shading 

 from bright sunshine. As soon as re-established they 

 should be well exposed, but are better where they do not 

 get full exposure to the sun. For ordinary culture the 

 side growths (or suckers) may remain, but for exhibition 

 only one crown should be grown. The side shoots, if 

 taken off carefully, will give further stock. The Alpine 

 varieties may be raised from seed, but it takes two years 

 to make effective plants ; though seed sown in May will 

 produce plants that will flower the following spring, but 

 they will only be fit for selection for the following year. 

 From seed we get such a large number of plants that 

 they may be grown closely together the first season, 

 and when they flower the weedy ones may be pulled out, 

 and any of special value labelled. 



To get good results much depends upon winter treat- 

 ment. Although quite hardy when grown in the ground 

 the pot-plants should have some protection, but only 

 in very severe weather should they be kept under close 

 frames ; in all favourable weather the lights should be 

 taken off. Many plants are spoiled through being kept 

 too close in mild weather during the winter, and the 

 Auriculas are among the plants that must have plenty 

 of light and air. 



The spring treatment of those grown in pots will 

 depend to some extent upon the time they are required 

 to come into flower. They cannot be forced, but placed 

 on a shelf in a cool greenhouse where they are fully 

 exposed to the sun they come on early. When they 

 begin to start into growth after clearing off any bad 

 leaves they may be surfaced, as recommended above. 

 Watering is an important factor ; careful attention, 

 and liquid manure made from cow-dung will greatly 

 assist growth. See MANURES. When in flower, those 

 with the farina, or paste on the flowers, must be pro- 

 tected from wet ; they will also last longer if shaded from 

 the sun. 



Diseases. The Auricula is not subject to so many 

 diseases as most plants ; canker or ulceration of the roots 

 being the chief trouble. This may be averted by careful 

 potting and the occasional use of lime water. Like most 

 other root diseases, it is brought about by inattention to 

 watering. If the plants get too dry the roots suffer and 

 cannot take up the water, and this causes canker and 

 decay. 



AVE'NA. A genus of the Nat. ord. Grasses, of which 

 it is only necessary to observe here that one of its 

 species, Ave'na sati'va, is the Oat. 



A'VENS. Ge'um. 



AVENUE. Trees planted in a straight line on either 

 side of a roadway ; the Chestnut Avenue at Hampton 

 Court is a good example It is rarely that modern land- 

 scape gardeners follow this formal way of planting. 



AVERRHO'A. (Named after Averrhoes, a Spanish 

 physician. Nat. ord. Oxalids [Geraniaceae]. Linn. 10- 

 Decandria, ^-Pentagynia.) 



The leaves of A. Cara'mbola exhibit that kind of 

 irritability we call " sensitive." The fruit of both species 

 is eaten in India ; but its acidity is intolerable to Euro- 

 peans. Stove evergreen shrubs ; half-ripened cuttings 

 in April, in sand, loam, and peat in close frame with 

 bottom-heat ; loam and peat. Summer temp., 60 to 

 85 ; winter, 55 to 60. 



A. Bili'mbi (bilimbi-/mO. 8. Reddish-yellow. August. 



E. Ind. 1791. 

 i, Carambo'la. 14 to 20. 1793. 



AVERRUNCATOR (from the Latin avenunco, to 

 prune). A small pair of powerful shears, on a long 

 handle, for severing boughs on lofty trees. 



AVIARY. This building, devoted to the preservation 

 of live birds, distinguished for the beauty either of their 

 notes or plumage, is rarely admitted within a garden ; 

 and still more rarely is it sufficiently ornamental, or 

 sufficiently free from disagreeables, to be a source of 

 pleasure. 



AVOCA'DO. See PERSE'A GRATI'SSIMA. 



AXIL. This term, meaning, literally, the arm-pit, is 

 used by botanists to indicate the point of the angle be- 

 tween a leaf and a branch, or between a branch and the 

 stem. 



AYE'NIA. (Named after the Duke d'Ayen. Nat. ord. 

 Sterculiads [Sterculiacese]. Linn. $-Pentandria, i-Mono- 

 gynia.) 



Stove plants ; cuttings in sand ; rich soil ; ordinary 

 stove treatment. 



A. Iceviga'ta (smooth). 2. Scarlet. Jamaica. Ever- 

 green under-shrub. 



Pusi'lla (small). i. Purple. August. Jamaica. 

 1756. Biennial. 



AZA'LEA. (From azaleos, dry ; in reference to the 

 habitation of the plant. Nat. ord. Heathworts [Ericaceae]. 

 Linn. $-Pentandria, i-M0nogynia.) 



It was said that the Pontic honey which stupefied the 

 Greek soldiers was collected from Rhodode 'ndron po'nti- 

 cum ; but Pallas believes it to have been gathered from 

 Azalea po'ntica. Some authorities include the Azaleas 

 with Rhododendrons. I find this is done in the pub- 

 lished awards made by the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 This brings in a difficulty, for Azalea pontica is quite a 

 different plant to Rhododendron ponticum. This may 

 have caused the confusion referred to in the old edition, 

 and which has been repeated without alteration in a 

 later edition. Azalea pontica is Rhododendron ftavum, if 

 placed in that genus. Where the specific name is 

 changed under Rhododendron, the name is given under 

 Azalea as a synonym. All the greenhouse species are 

 evergreen, except A. squama' ta ; and all the hardy 

 species are deciduous. The hardy species, by layers, 

 made in summer and autumn, and doing best in sandy 

 peat, though many will thrive well in peat and loam ; 

 the Indian species and varieties are propagated by seed, 

 and cuttings of stiff, but not overhard, shoots, inserted 

 in sand, under a bell-glass ; sandy peat. Summer temp. , 

 60 to 75, if required to bloom early ; winter, 45 to 55. 

 A lower temperature will suit, if late bloom is wanted. 



